Feasibility analysis help sheet
One of the most exciting aspects of leading a social enterprise is coming up with innovative new…
We provide a range of training options designed specifically for social enterprises.
Because we understand the social enterprise sector.
In fact, we were one of the first social enterprises and B Corps in Australia. In 2020 we ceased our B Corp accreditation in favour of legally mandating our social mission, becoming one of the first companies in Australia to enshrine our values in our constitution, which states: "commercial imperatives are afforded equal priority to our social mission, our commitment to employees, and our responsibility to the environment in which we work".
We have designed and developed a capacity building program for social enterprises based on over 10 years of experience in the sector.
Boards, Governance and Leadership
Good governance is the key to every aspect of a social enterprise's health. This workshop explores the roles and responsibilities of board members. It covers the important fiduciary duties, and takes a dive into the Acts, Regulations, Codes and Policies that apply to organisations governed by a board or committee.
The workshop is a great refresher for the more experienced and a useful induction for new board members. We’ll cover the following, as well as answering all your questions:
Unlocking the income potential of your social enterprise
Communities and funders have prioritised working with businesses and services that make positive social and environmental impacts.
Despite leg ups with social procurement becoming a norm, social enterprises often struggle to make it work in their start-up phase (see: capital raising heartache) and the unique characteristics of their business.
In this workshop we'll help you focus on the steps you can take to use an entrepreneurial mindset and unlock your organisation's unique selling proposition to progress purpose and increase income. This workshop covers:
Leadership
Leadership is the most important role in an organisation, yet we don’t always take the time to assess and extend our skills in this area.
In this workshop we work through the following key questions about leadership:
A deeper understanding of how you lead can result in a more strategic organisation with a clearer vision of the way forward.
Communication: How to tell your story to stakeholders
Getting the message out about your social enterprise – its aims, activities and attitudes – is crucial in ensuring the public know what your group does, what it believes in and what it is working towards. Join us at this workshop for top tips for good communication and building your plan for communicating with your customers, the media and other stakeholders.
Grant writing
In this workshop, participants are guided through the process of applying for a grant or funding proposal, using guidelines, templates and assessment criteria to create a compelling project plan that wins grants and social procurement contracts. The creation of a realistic budget with in-kind contributions acknowledged, the use data and evidence to support the proposal, as well as the importance of creating timelines, backing letters and other evidence of community support are all covered. The workshop concludes with a question-and-answer session.
Project management for social enterprises
Project management is like steering the ship for your social enterprise's mission.
It's the art of planning, organising, and guiding your projects to success. Think of it as your trusty roadmap. You'll set clear goals, figure out who's doing what (and when!), and keep a close eye on the budget.
This workshop will cover:
Impact evaluation
An organisation which can use its data effectively will be able to tell a compelling story of relevance and success to potential funders, supporters and stakeholders. Impact evaluation does not have to be expensive and can be done on a shoestring by putting a few systems in place. Every social enterprise collects information, and often, an evaluation can be carried out, using just the information you are collecting anyway.
Strategic planning
As the old saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail. Strategic planning is the process social enterprises undertake to ensure they stay purpose focused – and establish that they have the resources to make progress towards their goals. In this workshop participants are guided to establish a strategic planning framework and are given some tools to be able to tackle the task with minimum fuss.
The workshop covers:
In-person training can be provided for up to 30 participants and we work with you to ensure your key priorities are achieved.
Online workshops can be delivered to up to 200 participants.
We can bring you an information-packed series of online workshops or you can schedule just one. Hear from experts on some of the hottest topics, trends and issues facing social enterprises.
Please note: some technical information
The ICDA staff are experts at creating bespoke training sessions. Please complete the form below or email training@communitydirectors.com.au or call us on (03) 9320 6800 to talk about your needs.